Stove

ABSTRACT

A low cost stove which is conformed essentially by three metallic cans, wherein the first can which has the function of serving as support structure, comprises a first plurality of holes along its entire periphery which serve as inlet ports of air and oxygen therein. The second can, which is integrally attached to the interior of the first can, has the function of serving as a container and alcohol burner. Said second can or burner comprises a second plurality of holes on its lateral wall extending along its entire periphery and which are spaced equidistantly from each other, wherein said second plurality of holes in the second can or burner, are in fluid communication with the first plurality of holes of the first can. The burner further comprises on its upper wall a central hole, which has the function of serving as inlet means for the alcohol to the interior thereof. Likewise, said central hole, in use, is covered by a coin to cause that the combustion gases and flame are deviated towards the second plurality of holes for carrying out the heating of the vessel containing food or water, which is disposed on the upper edges of the first and second cans. The third can is simple and without holes and has the function of extinguishing the fire and serving as an advertising space.

The present invention refers to a low cost stove to be used in disasterareas, in camping areas, or in areas of extreme poverty where there isnot any technology and services that are normally present in homes ofmiddle and high class, for cooking and preparing food, such as LP gasservice or electric grills or microwave ovens. In particular, thepresent invention refers to a stove with a high thermal efficiency usinga simple and common fuel such as ethanol at 96% or 70%, and which isavailable in any store, pharmacy, mall, etc., at a very low cost.Likewise, the present invention refers to a stove of simplemanufacturing, economic and fully ecological, which is conformedessentially by only three simple cans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, there are several ways for cooking and preparing food suchas gas stoves, electric grills, microwave or electric ovens. Equally, itis also known that in camping areas or very poor areas said foodpreparation is carried out by means of fires, in which is used wood orpaper as fuel.

However, all the aforementioned media presents several problems, forexample when a person has to prepare food in disaster areas, since it iswell known that after a disaster such as: earthquake, the passage of ahurricane, a tsunami, etc., the affected areas do not have any servicesuch as gas or light, thus, the fact of preparing food or boiling waterin these affected areas is too complicated, given that those affectedareas commonly remain without means of communication such as roads bymeans of which stoves and their respective fuel as it is LP gas forpreparing said food and much less electricity for the use of electricgrills. Likewise, supplying said stoves and gas by air is also toodangerous due to the fact that the containers containing this kind offuels, are vessels submitted to high pressures which are made of metalthat is very heavy for its transportation as well as delicate, since incase that the vessel is hit because of turbulence (due to weatherconditions), this could explode, causing even more damage.

Likewise, for very poor areas, food preparation is extremely complicatedby the aforementioned means, since usually this kind of areas do notcomprise any service such as potable water, electricity, drainage andmuch less gas. Equally, for people who inhabit these kind of zones it isalmost impossible to acquire a common stove since they are veryexpensive and the fuel to make them work is also very expensive. Becauseof this, in such areas the food is commonly cooked or prepared byburning wood or charcoal which is highly polluting and harmful to healthwhen is done indoors.

In the same manner, there are burners using solid alcohol as fuel toissue a flame; however, these kind of burners are not suitable forpreparing food, since they do not reach the sufficient temperature forcooking food or boil water, thus, these kind of devices are known as“warmers” or “heaters” since they only keep food at a constanttemperature, which is very low, to avoid the cooling thereof, but arenot intended for cooking.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a low cost stoveand easy to transport both said stove as the fuel used therein, to beused in disaster areas.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stove of low cost ofmanufacturing, simple, economic and fully ecological as well as with along useful life.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a lowcost stove with a high thermal efficiency using a simple and common fuelsuch as ethanol or alcohol at 70%, 96% or even 99.5%.

Another object of the invention is to provide a low cost stove, whereinsaid stove and its fuel are fully accessible to people living in areasof extreme poverty.

A further object of the invention is to provide a low cost stove, whichreaches temperatures in the range of 310 up to 350° C. in a firstembodiment for cooking any type of food, and in a second embodimentwherein the first can is also used as burner, such stove reachestemperatures in the range 350 up to 400° C.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a low cost stove,which can be used on any surface without using any insulating coversince the base of said stove is not heated.

Yet another object of the invention to is provide a low cost stove,fully scalable, which can be made of different sizes or dimensionsaccording to the needs, without losing efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are achieved by a low cost stove which isconformed essentially by three metallic cans, wherein the first canwhich is opened at its upper end, and has the function of serving assupport structure, comprising a first plurality of holes along itsentire periphery which serve as inlet ports of air and oxygen therein.The second can which is integrally attached by any suitable means, tothe interior of the first can, has the function of serving as acontainer and fuel burner. Said second can or burner comprises a secondplurality of holes on its lateral wall extending along its entireperiphery and which are spaced equidistantly from each other, whereinsaid second plurality of holes in the second can or burner, are in fluidcommunication with the first plurality of holes of the first can. Theburner further comprises on its upper wall a central hole which has thefunction of serving as inlet means for fuel to the interior thereof.Likewise, said central hole, in use, is covered by a coin to cause thatthe combustion gases and flame are deviated towards the second pluralityof holes for carrying out the heating of the vessel containing food orwater, which is disposed on the upper edges of the first and secondcans.

The third can is simple and without holes and has the function ofextinguishing the fire by covering the burner cutting off abruptly theoxygen supplying from the first plurality of holes, also the third canor lid has the additional function of maintaining the ethanol or alcoholinside the tank/burner for long periods of time, and serving as anadvertising space.

In a further embodiment, the first can or stove structure functions as asecond burner, for which, fuel is introduced into the interior cavityformed between the first and second cans, which is ignited afterigniting the fuel of the first burner and cover the upper central holeof the first burner.

Said further embodiment of the low cost stove of the present inventionfurther comprises a fourth can, which like the third can is simple andwithout perforations and has the function of extinguishing the fire ofthe second burner, covering it cutting off abruptly the supplying ofoxygen from the environment and which is introduced into the cavitythrough the first plurality of holes, further, said fourth can or coverhas the additional function of maintaining the ethanol or alcohol withinthe cavity for long periods of time, and also serves as advertisingspace.

The additional features and advantages of the invention should be moreclearly understood by means of the detailed description of the preferredembodiment thereof, given by a non-limitative example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the low cost stove, which shows thefirst and second cans before use.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the low cost stove, which shows thethird can covering the second can to extinguish the stove after use.

FIG. 1B is a cutaway view in cross section of the low cost stove of thepresent invention showing all its components assembled.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the first can or stove structure, which showsthe configuration of the inlet holes of air and oxygen.

FIG. 2B is a cutaway view in cross section on line A-A of FIG. 2A, whichshows the configuration of the elements forming the first can.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the second can or burner, which shows theconfiguration of the holes of air and oxygen inlet and flame outlet.

FIG. 3B is a cutaway view in cross section on line A-A of FIG. 3A, whichshows the configuration of the elements forming the second can.

FIG. 4A is a front view of the third can or cover lid.

FIG. 4B is a cutaway view in cross section on line B-B of FIG. 4A, whichshows the configuration of the elements forming the third can.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the low cost stove of the presentinvention during use, in which the upper central hole is covered by acoin.

FIG. 5B is a cutaway view in cross section of FIG. 4A, which shows thefluid communication between the holes of the first can and the holes ofthe second can.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the low coststove of the present invention after use, wherein a fourth can whichcovers completely the first can and/or stove.

FIG. 6B is a cutaway view in cross section of FIG. 6A, which shows thethird and fourth cans covering the first and second cans, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the behavior of the combustion and flames ofthe low cost stove of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6B, it is shown the low cost stove of thepresent invention generally numbered in 10. This stove is showngenerally conformed by a first can or stove structure 12, a second canor burner 14, and a third can or lid 16. Also, in a further embodimentsaid low cost stove comprises a fourth can or cover 22.

With reference now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in said figures it is shown thefirst can 12, which has a substantially cylindrical shape, said can 12comprises a side wall 122 which is joined integrally to a base wall 128forming an open can on its upper end. Said side wall 122 comprises afirst plurality of holes 124 having a configuration substantiallyoblong, which have a first function of allowing the entering of air andoxygen into the first can, said plurality of holes is disposed along theentire periphery said side wall 122, forming rows of holes 124equidistantly spaced from each other. Said sidewall further comprises arounded ridge 126 at its upper end which avoids that the user cuts hishand during the handling of the stove, and which serves as areinforcement for supporting the vessel in which the food will beprepared.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, said figures show the second can orburner 14 of the low cost stove 10 of the present invention, which isdisposed within said first can, said burner 14 comprises a sidewall 142,which is integrally joined to an upper wall 146 and a base wall 152,forming a closed can. The side wall 142 comprises a second plurality ofholes 144 with a substantially circular configuration, having a firstfunction of serving as inlet means of air and oxygen into said burnerand a second function of serving as outlet means for the combustiongases and flames so as to provide heat to the vessel in which the foodwill be prepared.

Said second plurality of holes 144 is formed by pairs of holesvertically disposed one upper and one lower, which are arranged alongthe entire periphery of said side wall 142 and spaced equidistantly fromone another. Said pairs of holes 144 are located in a such way that thatthe center of the diameter of the lower holes 144 coincides with thecenter of the can or burner 14 so that there is enough space between thelower hole of each pair of holes 144 and the wall base 152 forcontaining the alcohol to carry out the cooking of food. The upper wall146 is slightly conical to serve as a funnel during the supplying offuel into the burner. Said upper wall 146 further comprises a centralbore 148 which allows the entry of alcohol into said burner, andreinforcing ridge 150 which serves to support the vessel, in which thefood will be prepared, along with the ridge 126 of the first can 12. Thebase wall 152 serves as connection means between the first can 12 andthe second can or burner 14, wherein the outer surface of said base wall152 is fixedly or permanently attached to the inner surface of the basewall 128 of the first can.

Said first and second cans can be joined by any suitable means, such aswelding, punching, or adhesives, without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in said figures the third can or lid16 is shown, which comprises a sidewall 162 and a wall integrallyattached to an upper wall 164, said third can or lid 16 has the functionof turning off the stove 10 once the food has been cooked, by coveringthe second can or burner 14 cutting off suddenly the air and oxygensupplying into said burner.

In a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first can also hasthe function of second burner, for which an inner cavity or secondcombustion chamber 20 located between the sidewall 122 of the first canand the sidewall 142 of the second can or first burner is provided withalcohol for its combustion, in said second embodiment, the firstplurality of holes have a second function of outlet means for thecombustion gases and flames to provide heat and additional fire to thevessel wherein the food will be prepared.

In the second embodiment of the present invention shown said FIGS. 6Aand 6B, the low cost stove further comprises a fourth can or cover 22,which is similar in design to the third can 16, but with such dimensionsthat it completely covers the first can, extinguishing the fire of thesecond burner 12.

The operation of the first embodiment of the low cost stove of thepresent invention is as follows:

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, in a first step, the third can 16 isremoved from the stove, leaving free the burner 14, then, said burner 14is provided with alcohol at 99.5% or 96% or 70%, which is introducedthrough the upper central hole 148, once the alcohol is located withinthe burner 14, the gases expelled by the alcohol are ignited by anysuitable ignition means such as a match or lighter, thereby generating aflame of a yellow or orange color.

After initiating the alcohol combustion, said hole 148 is capped orcovered by the coin 18, as shown in FIG. 5A, which generates a change insaid combustion, and causes the combustion gases and flames are fullydeviated towards the holes 144 so that the flame changes into a bluecolor, which indicates that the temperature of the flames is at its moreoptimum point as shown in FIG. 7.

Once reached said color Blue of the flames, the vessel or containercontaining food or water is positioned over the stove for its heatingand/or preparation, whose cooking surface reaches temperatures in therange of 300-350° C.

When the food has been prepared or water has been boiled, the stove 10is turned off by placing the cap or lid 16 over the burner 14, as shownin FIGS. 1A and 1B, which causes that the oxygen feeding into the burner14 is suddenly cut off, causing the immediate extinguishing of flames.

The operation of the second embodiment of the low cost stove of thepresent invention is as follows:

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6B, in a first step, the third and fourthcans 16 are removed from the stove, leaving free the first burner 14 andsecond burner 12, then said first 14 and second 12 burners are providedwith alcohol 99.5% or 96% or 70%, which is introduced into the firstcombustion chamber through the upper central hole 148, and in the secondcombustion chamber through the upper part thereof, once the alcohol islocated within the first and second combustion chambers 14, 12, thealcohol gases expelled from both the first combustion chamber and thesecond combustion chamber are ignited simultaneously by any suitableignition means such as a match or lighter, thereby generating a firstand second flames of a yellow or orange color.

After initiating the combustion of the alcohol of the first and secondburners 14, 12, said hole 148 is capped or covered by the coin 18, whichgenerates a change into the combustion, and causing that the combustiongases and flames within the first burner are entirely deviated towardsthe holes 144 as shown in FIG. 7, causing that both the flame of thefirst burner 14, as the flame of the second burner 12 change into a bluecolor, which indicates that the temperature of the flames is at its moreoptimum point.

Once the blue color of the flames has been reached, the vessel orcontainer containing food or water for its heating and/or preparation isplaced over the stove.

When the food has been prepared or water has been boiled, the heater 10is turned off by placing the cap 16 on the first burner 14 and byplacing the cover 22 over the second burner 12, which causes that theoxygen feeding into the first and second burners 14 is suddenly cut off,causing the immediate extinguishing of flames.

By the structural configuration of the cans and the holes of the lowcost stove of the present invention, it is possible to use the stove onany surface, since the base thereof never heats, due to the fact thatthe high temperatures are concentrated only in the upper part of saidstove.

Also, due to the arrangement and disposition of the first and secondplurality of orifices, it is possible to reach temperatures from 350° C.up to 400° C., because of the high oxygenation of the combustionchambers of the first and second burners.

Similarly, with the low cost stove of the present invention it ispossible to have a high efficiency and performance of the relationshiptemperature-fuel, which are indicated in the following tables andexamples, as well as a comparison between the known conventional stovesand low cost stove of the present invention:

Tank one uses 330 ml of ethanol at 96%.

Tank two uses 550 ml of ethanol at 96%.

The stove is made of nickel-plated metal sheet.

Results: 1. Using Ethanol at 96%. Tank 1

Boiling Time (2.8 L of water) 37 minutes Ethanol consumed 130.0 gramsThermal Efficiency 39% Firepower 1,417.0 watts

Thus, 48 g of ethanol are used to boil 1 L of water.

2. Using Ethanol at 96%. Tank 2

Boiling Time (2.8 L of water) 11 minutes Ethanol consumed 255.0 gramsThermal Efficiency 16% Firepower 9,350.0 watts

Thus, 89 g of ethanol are used to boil 1 L of water.

3. Emissions*

1.2 g CO/kg ethanol.

2.8 g PM/kg ethanol.

*Was measured using Tank 2.

Time: Ini- .5 1.0 1.5 2 2.5 3 Product tial minute minute mins. mins.mins. mins. Glatt Stove tank 21 125 180 230 270 300 315 #1 Glatt Stovetank 21 170 250 320 340 370 390 #1 + tank #2 Homemade gas 21 160 250 315337 340 343 stove with 6 burners Can of Solid 21 110 120 140 140 155 155alcohol Under Pressure 21 110 260 315 350 370 375 Gas Grill Gas Grillwith 21 140 230 290 310 315 330 an External Tank 30 Kg. Electrical Grill21 110 200 220 300 310 310 Campfire made 21 NA NA NA NA NA NA of threestones Brazier 21 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Everything is in Celsius Degrees.

The test was made with a griddle for tortilla made of thin sheet with adiameter of 30 cm.

NA means “Not Applicable” since turning on any of these products orsystems takes more than 3 minutes.

The temperatures are average temperatures since due to the griddle isthin, this is heated unevenly.

1. A stove suitable for use in disaster areas or regions of extremepoverty, said stove comprising: a first can comprising a first base wallintegrally joined to a first side wall, and a first reinforcing ridgealong a first upper edge of said first side wall for supporting a vesselfor preparing food, wherein said first side wall defines a plurality offirst holes; a burner disposed within said first can and comprising acombustion chamber defined by a base, a second upper wall defining acentral hole for receiving fuel, and a second side wall integrallyjoined to said base and to said second upper wall, and furthercomprising a second reinforcing ridge along a second upper edge of saidsecond side wall for supporting said vessel, wherein said base isattached to said first base wall of said first can, wherein said secondburner wall defines a plurality of second holes in fluid communicationwith said plurality of first holes, and wherein said central hole issized and shaped to be covered by a coin; and a cap comprising a thirdside wall integrally joined to a third upper wall, said cap sized andshaped to fit over said burner for selectively extinguishing combustion.2. The stove according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of first holescomprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart openings along saidfirst side wall and arranged in a plurality of rows.
 3. The stoveaccording to claim 2, wherein said openings are substantially oblong. 4.The stove according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of second holescomprises a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart pairs of openingsalong said second side wall, said pairs of openings arranged vertically,an upper opening and a lower opening.
 5. The stove according to claim 4,wherein each opening of said plurality of second holes is substantiallycircular.
 6. The stove according to claim 5, wherein said lower openingis positioned relative to said base of said burner to allow sufficientspace to contain said fuel.
 7. The stove according to claim 1, whereinsaid second upper wall is slightly conical in shape to funnel said fueltoward said central hole during filling.
 8. The stove according to claim1, wherein said fuel is a liquid alcohol having a percentage of 99.5percent, 96 percent, 90 percent, or 70 percent.
 9. The stove accordingto claim 1, wherein said base of said burner may be placed on anysurface during combustion with a low risk of burning said surface. 10.The stove according to claim 1, wherein ignition of gases expelled bysaid fuel generates flames appearing yellow or orange, and when saidcentral hole is blocked by said coin, said flames are directed towardsaid plurality of second holes and said flames appear blue, indicating asuitable temperature for cooking.
 11. The stove according to claim 1,wherein ignition of gases expelled by said fuel generates temperaturesnear said vessel of about 300 degrees Celsius to about 350 degreesCelsius.
 12. The stove according to claim 1, further comprising a firstadvertising indicia located on a first outer surface of said cap. 13.The stove according to claim 1, wherein a second combustion chamber isdefined by a space between said first can and said burner for receivinga second fuel, said stove further comprising a cover comprising a fourthside wall integrally joined to a fourth upper wall, said cover sized andshaped to fit over said first can for selectively extinguishingcombustion in said second combustion chamber.
 14. A stove suitable foruse in disaster areas or regions of extreme poverty, said stovecomprising: a first can comprising a first base wall integrally joinedto a first side wall, and a first reinforcing ridge along a first upperedge of said first side wall for supporting a vessel for preparing food,wherein said first side wall defines a plurality of first holes; aburner disposed within said first can and comprising a combustionchamber defined by a base, a second upper wall defining a central holefor receiving fuel, and a second side wall integrally joined to saidbase and to said second upper wall, and further comprising a secondreinforcing ridge along a second upper edge of said second side wall forsupporting said vessel, wherein said base is attached to said first basewall of said first can, wherein said second burner wall defines aplurality of second holes in fluid communication with said plurality offirst holes, and wherein said central hole is sized and shaped to becovered by a coin; a cap comprising a third side wall integrally joinedto a third upper wall, said cap sized and shaped to fit over said burnerfor selectively extinguishing combustion in said combustion chamber; asecond combustion chamber defined by a space between said first can andsaid burner for receiving a second fuel; a cover comprising a fourthside wall integrally joined to a fourth upper wall, said cover sized andshaped to fit over said first can for selectively extinguishingcombustion in said second combustion chamber.
 15. The stove according toclaim 14, wherein said second fuel is a liquid alcohol having apercentage of 99.5 percent, 96 percent, 90 percent, or 70 percent. 16.The stove according to claim 14, wherein ignition of gases expelled bysaid fuel, and of second gases expelled by said second fuel, togethergenerates temperatures near said vessel of about 350 degrees Celsius toabout 400 degrees Celsius.
 17. The stove according to claim 14, furthercomprising a second advertising indicia located on a second outersurface of said cover.